Overshoe-fastener



(No Model.)

M. ST. JOHN. OVBRSHOB FAST-ENBR.

No. 570,347. Patented 00t. 27, 1896.

QUitmeoo 001 Lil NITED STATES PATENT Erica,

MARSENA ST. JOHN, OF OTTAWA, KANSAS.

OVERSHOE-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 570,347, dated October 27, 1896.

Application filed April 6, 1896. Serial No. 586,368. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, MARSENA ST. JOHN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ottawa, Franklin county, State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Overshoe-Fasteners; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following full, clear, and cxact description, terminating with claims particularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to boots and shoes, and more especially to that kind thereof known as rubbers; and the object of the same is to provide an improved device whereby the rubber may be fastened to the shoe temporarily when in place, so that it will not slip ofi of the same at the heel.

To this end theinvention consists in an eye member secured to and carried by the shoe and a catch member secured to and carried by the rubber, both of these parts being of the peculiar construction hereinafter more fully set forth, and as shown in the drawings, wherein- Figure l is a side elevation of a shoe with a rubber over the same and my improved device in position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective detail of the two members of my pfastener slightly separated. Fig. 3 is a View from the inside of the device, showing a piece of the leather and a piece of the rubber.

In the said drawings the letter S designates a boot or shoe of any approved pattern, and B is a rubber, also of any approved pattern and such as is usually slipped on over the toe of the shoe, drawn closely back, and its heel portion raised, so as to surround the heel portion of the shoe.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been found in preventing a somewhat loose rubber from slipping off the heel of the shoe, after which it may slide forward, so that its toe portion disengages the corresponding part of the shoe and the entire rubber falls off and is lost, especially when used in muddy places, where the suction is considerable as the foot is lifted. Rubbers have also been heretofore formed having lugs or projections on their outer faces to prevent the wearers trousers from falling outside the rubber and getting into the mud.

My invention is a fastener designed to prerear, as seen in Fig. 3, and also having addi- A tional tongues at its lower corners, which are turned outward and upward, so as to form two eyes 1', slightly separated and standing in a single horizontal plane. However, it will be understood that any other desired construction of this member may be adopted, provided only that such construction results in the formation and location of the two eyes iabout where shown.

The letter C designates the catch member,

here shown as consisting of a single piece of spring-wire bent into approximately U shape and possibly having coils K at the angles or bends between its side arms and its base. Said side arms are continued upward and thence bentoutward, as at O, to form handles and also projections which serve to keep the trousers out of the mud, above which they are bent again inward toward the shoe, and are finally bent laterally outward away from each other into points P, which are of a size to enter the eyes 1;.

The base of the catch member C may be attached to the rubber in any suitable manner, but in the present instance Ihave shown a wire WV as used for that purpose. The center of this wire lies against the inner face of the rubber, as seen in Fig. 3, and stands h0rizontal. At the ends of this portion it is bent upward and carried beyond the upper edge of the rubber over the shank of the catch member 0, as at w. Thence (see Fig. 2) it is carried downward, as at h, and passes through two holes H in the body of the rubber, (which may be reinforced by eyelets, if desired,) and finally (see Fig. 3 again) its ends are bent upward, as at E, on the inner face of the rubber and rest against the first or central portion of this wire W to prevent its displacement. It is obvious that any other suitable form of fastener may be used, but I prefer this because it is the simplest, cheapest, and most easily applied of any form I have yet devised.

In use, the parts being formed and applied in the proper manner, the shoe is put on the foot as usual, and when the rubber is not in use the eye member I will not interfere with the clothing in any way. \Vhen the rubber is slipped on over the shoe, the catch members are brought into use, the thumb and finger are applied outside of the handles 0, and they are pressed slightly toward each other, the yielding occurring in the coils or bends K. One of the points P is then passed into one of the eyes '0', the handles 0 still further compressed, the other point passed into its eye, and the pressure of'the hand removed. The elasticity ofthe-catch member will then force the two points outward and will hold them within the eyes of the eyemember, and

thereafter the rubber will be :held firmly against the bottom of the heel, While the trousers are also sustained and held out of the mud. necessarytoreverse the operation.

To remove the rubber, .it is only .It is ob- Vio'usrthat there may be one of these fasteners at each 'side'of rthe rubbeigas shownrin the drawings, or there may be but onefaste-n'er toea'ch rubber, and that preferably located in rear of the heel.

I do not 1i mit' myself to the exact construction 'of'parts-noruto their proportions or ma- 'terials,*and considerable change in the deltails may be made'without departing from the principle of my invention.

' 'VV-hat is claimed as new is- 1. In a rubber-fastener, the combination with an eye member attached to the shoe and having two separated cylindrical eyes; of a catch member comprising a substantially U- shaped body of spring material with coils between its base and side arms and whose base is attached at a point between said coils to the rubber, the arms being bent into handles projecting outwardly from the shoe and terminating in points projecting laterally outward from each other and adapted to be sprung into said eyes, substantially as de scribed.

2. In .a rubber-fastener, the combination with an eye member attached to the shoe, and a substantially ,U-shaped catch member the extremities of Whose arms are removablyconnected with saideye member; of an attaching-Wire whose center lies against theinner face of the rubber near its upper edge, the ends thereof being then passed overthe base of the catch-member and carried downward on the outer face. of the rubber, thencepassing through holes in the latter, and the extremities of this Wire being bent upward and resting against the inner. side, of its central portion, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof'I have hereunto subscribed my signature on this the 25th, day of March, A. D. 1896.

MARSENA ST. JOHN.

Witnesses:

Mrs. OHAs. OoRWrN,

CHAS. O. CORWIN. 

